{"id":285066,"date":"2023-10-25T20:57:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T18:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=285066"},"modified":"2023-10-25T20:57:22","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T18:57:22","slug":"the-wind-is-always-blowing-somewhere-fallacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=285066","title":{"rendered":"The Wind is Always Blowing Somewhere Fallacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Scene off Norfolk coast\r\n** Note: Slight graininess, best at smaller sizes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York has set a goal for its electricity to be 70% powered by clean energy by 2030. This latest investment means the state is going to beat that goal because it will have enough operating, contracted, and under-development clean energy projects to supply 79% of the state\u2019s 2030 electricity needs. New York is investing in a massive 6.4 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy \u2013 the largest state investment in clean energy in US history.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roger Caiazza<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am fed up with rent-seeking capitalists and na\u00efve academics who claim that wind, water, and solar resources are the only ones needed to provide reliable electric power.  This post shows by way of example that this is an unrealistic argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My primary focus over the last several years has been New York\u2019s the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act<\/a> (Climate Act).   Robert W. Howarth<\/a> authored sections of the Climate Act and was a member of the Climate Action Council<\/a> that is responsible for preparing the Scoping Plan<\/a> that outlines how to \u201cachieve the State\u2019s bold clean energy and climate agenda.\u201d .  He submitted a statement<\/a> supporting the Scoping Plan that exemplifies the narrative that no new technology is needed: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

I further wish to acknowledge the incredible role that Prof. Mark Jacobson of Stanford has played in moving the entire world towards a carbon-free future, including New York State. A decade ago, Jacobson, I and others laid out a specific plan for New York (Jacobson et al. 2013). In that peer-reviewed analysis, we demonstrated that our State could rapidly move away from fossil fuels and instead be fueled completely by the power of the wind, the sun, and hydro. We further demonstrated that it could be done completely with technologies available at that time (a decade ago), that it could be cost effective, that it would be hugely beneficial for public health and energy security, and that it would stimulate a large increase in well-paying jobs. I have seen nothing in the past decade that would dissuade me from pushing for the same path forward. The economic arguments have only grown stronger, the climate crisis more severe. The fundamental arguments remain the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/climate.ny.gov\/-\/media\/project\/climate\/files\/Robert-Howarth.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n